The costume is from an 800-item collection of personal effects being sold by Amy Winehouse’s parents.
Los Angeles:
The dress that singer Amy Winehouse wore to her final performance will be auctioned off this weekend in California as a memorabilia from the soul diva’s life.
Winehouse wore a green and black bamboo print to a concert in Belgrade in 2011.
A month later, on 23 July, she died of acute alcohol poisoning. She was 27 years old.
Her tragic death was the culmination of a long – and often very public – struggle with alcohol and drugs.
The costume is the highlight of an 800-item collection of personal effects, ranging from bras and DVDs to books and makeup that are being sold by Winehouse’s parents Mitch and Janice.
“It took them a long time to really come on terms and decide to let it go,” said Martin Nolan of auction house Julians.
“Of course, there are fans and museums and collectors around the world who want to own some of these items, take care of them, show them in museums, keep their legacy and their memory alive as well as want to raise some funds with the foundation,” he said.
Proceeds will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which supports vulnerable young adults struggling with addiction.
Multi-Grammy-winner Winehouse, whose seminal and soulful 2006 album “Back to Black” is counted as a modern classic, often speaks of his personal experiences battling alcoholism and drug addiction.
The short, green and black dress designed by Naomi Parry is expected to sell for between $15,000 and $20,000.
Nolan said, “It’s so iconic. But all of these clothes represent Amy — a brilliant musician, songwriter, but also a fashion icon.”
Another highlight of the sale is the custom-made heart-shaped handbag for her by Moschino that Winehouse used at the 2007 Brit Awards.
The 400-plus-page catalog put together by Julians is a walk-through of the singer’s influences and career, but also her distinctive retro style that has made her a fashion icon.
Many of the clothes she wore to the performance cost between $5,000 and $7,000, while her earrings will start at $400. Her signature red lipstick is expected to cost between $400 and $600.
The auction in Beverly Hill runs from Saturday to Sunday, and is estimated to raise about $2 million.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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